Emeris_Rose

“I was chosen for a mission I never asked for, and honestly, I don’t even know if I’m the right one for it. But the King believes in me—he thinks I can do the impossible. Me, a poor girl from the village. I never thought a life like mine would lead to anything grand, let alone to the royal palace. But here I am. The King has tasked me with a mission: to change Prince Lilian.

Prince Lilian—the heir to the throne, the one who is everything a prince should never be. He’s rude. He’s arrogant. He doesn’t care for anyone or anything except his own desires. His manners are a disgrace to the kingdom, and his pride is as towering as the castle itself. 

The King believes I can change him, shape him into the man he needs to becometo rule this kingdom. But, how? How can someone like me—an orphan with nothing but my honesty and humility—make him listen?

I’m not like the people here in the palace. They’re all about power, beauty, and status. They see me as nothing more than a tool to fix the Prince, and I’m not sure I can succeed. I’ve spent my life surviving, not leading. How can I change someone who has been given everything and yet still chooses to be selfish and stubborn?

But I have no choice. I must try. For the sake of this kingdom, for the Prince, and for myself. I have a mission. I must complete it. No matter the doubts, no matter how impossible it seems. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll discover that there’s more to me than even I knew. 

Will I fail? Or will I finally see if I’m more than just a girl with nothing?”

Working On You: My Uncompleted Mission

Mai stood motionless, the weight of the King's declaration pressing upon her like an iron shackle.

The words rang in her ears, but they felt distant, almost unreal. The storm within her had quieted, but the echoes of its fury still rattled her bones. She had hurt Prince Lilian—not just physically but in a way she could not yet comprehend. She had seen the fear in his eyes, in the faces of the court, the guards, the noblewomen, and the high council.

The King took a step forward, his gaze unreadable. "From this moment on, you are to remain in the palace, Mai. Your training will begin immediately."

Mai's heart pounded. "Your Majesty, I—"

"You will not refuse," he interrupted, his tone final. "You may fear what lies within you, but I do not. The prophecy speaks of you. You are to shape my son into the ruler this kingdom needs."

Prince Lilian, still recovering from her assault, clenched his jaw. "Father, this is madness. Look at her. She is dangerous."

The King's gaze shifted to his son. "Then you will learn to match her, Lilian. If you cannot, you are not fit to wear the crown."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed the prince's face. Frustration? Shame? Perhaps both.

Mai swallowed hard. This was the last thing she wanted. She had only accepted the challenge earlier to avoid exposing the truth of her origins. If she stayed here, if she allowed them to push her further, her secret—her true identity—would unravel before them all.

She clenched her fists. "I don't belong here."

The King's voice was softer now, yet no less powerful. "Then prove it. Train the prince. Succeed, and you may leave. Fail, and you will remain here until you are ready to face the truth."

Mai inhaled sharply. She had no choice.

The tension in the court lingered long after the King dismissed everyone. The noblewomen murmured among themselves, stealing wary glances at Mai as they left. The royal cabinet members exchanged hushed words, no doubt speculating on the prophecy and what it meant for the kingdom.

Mai remained standing, frozen in place.

Prince Lilian approached her, his jaw still tight with frustration. "You should have refused."

Mai met his gaze, her voice low. "You think I had a choice?"

Lilian exhaled sharply, looking away. "Whatever power you wield… it will destroy you."

Mai turned from him. "Then I guess we'll find out."

Her new chambers were nothing like the servant quarters she had been given before. Though still modest compared to the grandeur of the palace, they were warm, elegant, and undeniably meant for someone of importance.

Mai sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her trembling hands. They were still warm from the surge of power that had taken over her. She could still feel it beneath her skin, lurking, waiting for another moment to consume her.

She had barely begun to regain her composure when a knock sounded at the door.

A servant stepped inside, bowing deeply. "His Majesty requests your presence in the war chamber at dawn. Your training will begin immediately."

She nodded stiffly. "I understand."

The servant hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "If I may, Miss Mai… I was there. I saw what happened."

The woman continued, her voice laced with something almost like reverence. "The way you stood before them… The way they looked at you… It was as if you were born for this."

Mai's heart pounded. Born for this…

The servant bowed again and exited the room, leaving Mai alone with her thoughts.

She clenched the bedsheets in her fists.

She had been born for something else entirely.

And soon, the entire kingdom would know the truth.

A Battle Within